Echoes Of A Freedom Fighter Martin Luther King Historical Site Is A Profile In Courage

January 16, 2000|by RANDY KRAFT, The Morning Call

"Has anybody here seen my old friend Martin? Can you tell me where he's gone?"

The words of "Abraham, Martin and John," that popular song from 1968, flowed into my mind often as I walked around Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.

This is where King's mortal remains have gone. This place also keeps alive the flame of his legacy. If you come here you will be reminded how much was lost when he was assassinated in April 1968. Would there be more freedom, equality and social justice around the world if this remarkable man had lived?

America certainly is a better place because of Martin Luther King Jr. By leading a national movement of Christian non-violence against the injustices of racial segregation, he brought this nation much closer to its own ideals.

The final resting place of the civil rights leader is in a pleasant outdoor courtyard, about a block away from where he was born in Atlanta. His marble crypt stands on a circular, brick-covered island surrounded by a shallow blue reflecting pool.

Carved into the front of the crypt are the words: "Free at Last. Free At Last. Thank God Almighty I'm Free At Last."

I stood alone at the crypt several times during my November visit. The courtyard was silent except for dry leaves clattering on the bricks. Other leaves spiraled down into the water. An eternal flame flickered nearby.

I wondered how many people, at that very moment, were visiting John F. Kennedy's grave in Arlington, Va., and Elvis Presley's grave in Memphis, Tenn.

Why was I the only one at King's grave? I refused to accept the too-obvious answer: racism. Because that would not keep African-American people from being here.

King, who led the U.S. civil rights movement from 1955 until 1968, certainly was no less significant to American history than Kennedy or Presley. And no less beloved. Many blacks quite literally considered him a savior.

"This is holy ground," said a man who lives near the national historic site.

"I believe God was with him," said Rev. G.H. Williams, a park ranger and retired pastor who marched with King. "Many of us who are religious say he was our Moses, he was our deliverer. The man had a vision. He just knew what to do."

Any person who still grumbles about why King's birthday is a national holiday should visit this place, to better understand his legacy. His birthday was yesterday; tomorrow is the federally-designated holiday.

Perhaps the history is too recent for people to truly appreciate how much King and his followers changed this nation. This place is a monument to the courage and determination of all who stood on the front lines of the civil rights movement those who believed the power of love could overcome hatred and bring justice.

The small but powerful museum in the National Park Service Visitor Center takes a no-holds-barred look at all the ugliness of white supremacy. The museum does not gloss over hateful atrocities. This is not a place for anyone easily offended by the derogatory word "nigger."

Studying the museum's exhibits gives you a greater appreciation for the personal courage of King, whose life repeatedly was threatened at a time when blacks still were being lynched. He was jailed many times. He received a steady stream of hate mail. His home was bombed and crosses were burned on his lawn.

The emotional journey through the chronology of King's life and times will make any visitor wonder if he or she could find the moral strength to stand unarmed and remain passive against ferocious police dogs, tear gas, firehoses, billy clubs and guns. Or to follow any man who asked them to do such things.

He transcended racial issues by speaking out against poverty that entrapped whites as well as blacks. He also spoke out against war.

"The site is a centerpiece for learning," said superintendent Frank Catroppa. "Everybody comes first because they want to learn the history of Dr. King. And so many people come for inspiration and encouragement.

"Dr. King stood for equality, justice and non-violence. Those are things that all Americans stand for or that all Americans hopefully stand for."

I learned King had a tie to Pennsylvania: He earned his bachelor of divinity degree in 1951 at Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester.

Atlanta's gleaming skyline serves as the backdrop for the historic site. It is the city's third most popular attraction, after the World of Cola-Cola and Zoo Atlanta, according to Catroppa.

In little more than a city block, you can visit the house in which King was born, the church where he was co-pastor with his father, two museums about his life, and his tomb. The historic site even preserves a section of the old `Sweet Auburn" neighborhood around King's home, including a firehouse and several residences.